Acrylamide in Baking Products: A Review Article

Acrylamide or 2-propenamide is a chemical compound, with chemical formula CH(2)=CH-CO-NH(2), that can be produced at high levels in high-carbohydrate heat-treated foods. The risks of acrylamide to health and its toxic properties (neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity) were demonstrated by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment in 2001. Potato and bakery products account for around 50% and 20% of human exposure to acrylamide, respectively. Factors affecting acrylamide formation and degradation in foods are acrylamide precursors such as free amino acids (mainly asparagine), reducing sugars and processing conditions (i.e. baking time and temperature, moisture content and matrix of product). The aim of this review was to present some results from recent investigations of the effects of different factors affecting acrylamide formation in bakery products. Finally, recommendations are proposed as guidelines for baking manufacturers to reduce the level of acrylamide in their products.